Signaling device



Aug. 16, 1932.

E. F. SEBESTA SIGNALING DEVICE Filed Sept. 28, 1931 n 2 Sheets-Sheec l Aug. 16, 1932. E. FfsEBEsTA 1,872,097

I SIGNALING DEVICE Filed sept. 28, 19:51 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Aug. 16, 1932 PATENT OFFICE EDWARD F. SEBESTA, F MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA SIGNALING DEVICE ppi-mation mea yseptember 2a, 1931. serial No. 565,428.

This invention relates to signaling devices and particularly to such signaling devices as may be mounted on vehicles to signify the intentions of the drivers of the vehicles to l, make left and right turns.

It is the general object of the invention to provide a novel and improved signaling device including a signal arm, which can be extended and retracted quickly relative to a f. supporting structure for the arm and can be rotated readily to expose different arbitrary designations to view when the arm is in extended position.

To this end, generally stated, the invention ,f consists in the novel partsV and novel combinations of the parts hereinafter defined in the claims, and described in the following specification, made in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference t characters refer to the same or similar parts throughout the various views, and in which,

Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation showing a signal embodying the invention applied to the header above the windshield of an automobile, the movable parts being shown in one position with the signal arm retracted in full lines and the signal arm being shown in a partly extended posit-ion in dotted lines;

Fig. 2 is a vview in front elevation show- `;1,- ing a portion of the signal with the signal arm retracted and with certain ofthe movable parts in another position than that shown in full lines, Fig. 1'; c

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1, as indicated by the arrows; Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1, as indicated by the arrows, one of the parts bein g broken away and partly shown in section;

.w Fig. 5 is a view partly in front elevation and partly in vertical section illustrating a valve block and a valve mounted therein in one position;

Fig. 6 is a view taken similar to Fig. 5, but

illustrating the valve in another position;

Fig. 7 is a vertical section taken through the signal arm;

Fig. 8 is a vertical section taken on the line 8 8 of Fig. 7, as indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 9 is a vertical section taken on the line o 9 9 of Fig. 7, as indicated by the arrows; and

Fig. 10 is a vertical section taken on the line 10 10 of Fig. 3, as indicated by the arrows. y

Referring to the drawings, there is show a header board 11 located above the windshield of an automobile and upon the front side of this header board there is mounted a signaling device embodying my invention. Secured to this header board 11 and projecting to a point adjacent theleft end of the header board, looking'in the direction toward whielrthe automobile of which the header board forms a part is facing, is a horizontally disposed angle bar 12. Secured to this bar 12 adjacent the right end of the same, is a block 13 while secured to the bar adjacent the medial portion of the same is a block 14 and secured` to the bar adjacent the left end of the same is a block l5. A guide rod 16 extends between the two blocks 14 and 15 and ties these blocks together. The block 13 is recessed at its left side to receive one end of a pump cylinder 17, while the block 14 is 75 recessed at its right side to receive the other end of the cylinder 17. A tube 18 runs between the two blocks 13 and 14 below cylinder 17 and it communicates at its right end through a passage 19 in block 13 with the S0 right end of the cylinder 17 The left endof the tube 18 runs into the right side of the block 14 adjacent the lower end of the same and communicates with a passage 20 in the block running into a vertical passage 21 eX- 85 tending from bottom to top of the block. In upwardly spaced relation from the passage 20, a passage 22 runs from the passage 21 into the cylinder receiving recess of block 14 and this passage 22 affords communication between the passage 21 and the left end of the cylinder 17. Intermediate the level of the two passages 2O and 22 and at the left side of the block, there is formed a boss and a passage 23 runs through this boss to form communication at all times between the passage 21 and flexible tube 24 connected to the boss. This tube 24 will be connected to either air exhaustion means or air forcing means and, in practice, it'will preferably be connected either with the intake manifold of the automobile engine or the exhaust manifold of the engine. lt is immaterial to the operation of the signaling device whetherl the tube is connected to one or the other of these means, but for the purpose of further description, let us consider that the tube is connected to the intake manifold of the engine and that, therefore, there will be a constant pull on the air in the tube to withdraw thevair therefrom when the engine is running. Mounted within the passage 21 is a valve 25 having a stem running downwardly from theY block 14 and a pair of vertically spaced heads 25a fitting the passage 21. As shown in Fig. 5, this valve 25 may be lowered so that the lower head 25a is below the point where the passage 2O joins the passage 21 and the upper head 25a is below'the point where the passage 22 joins the passage 21' but above the point where the passage 23 joins the passage 21. lVhen the valve is in the positionshown in Fig. 5, it will be seen that communication between the right end of the cylinder 17 and the tube 24 is possible through passage 19, tube 18,*passage :20, passage 21 and passage 23. It will also be seen that communication between the left end of cylinder 17 and tube 24 is impossible because of the fact that the upper head 25a blocks passage 21 between passage 22 and 23. However, the left end of the cylinder, when the valve is in the position shown inl Fig. 5, Will be in direct communication with the outside atmosphere through the passage 22, and passage 21 which extends through the upper portion of the block 14. When the valve 25 is in the raised position, shown in Fig. 6, communication between the right end of the cylinder 17 and the tube .24 is impossible because of the fact that the lower head 25a stands between the points where the passages 2O and 23 run into passage 21. It will also be seen that when the valve is in this raised position, that the right end of the cylinder 17 will be in communication with the atmosphere through the passage 19, tube 18, passage 29 and passage 21, which extends through the lower portion of the block 14.

`. Also when the valve 25 is in the raised position shown in Fig. 6,l the upper head 25a will be raised above the point where passage 22 enters passage 21 and accordingly the left end of cylinder 17 may communicate with tube 24 through passage 22, passage 21 and passage 23. Secured to the lower end of the stem of valve 25 is a small block 26 in which one end of a link 27 is pivoted.

A pump plunger or piston 28 which may consist merely of a pair of oppositely disposed cup-shaped leather washers is disposed within the cylinder 17 and a plunger rod 29, to which the plunger 28 is connected, runs outwardly from the cylinder 27 through a packing gland 30 in the block 14. This plunger rod extends through an opening in the block 15 and is downwardly bent at its left end and flattened and the flattened end of this rod carries a pivot pin or stud 31. Secured to this rod 29 in spaced relation to the right from the downturned end of the same, is a guide bracket 32 having a notch in its rear edge within which the rod 16 lits. Secured to a lug at the left side of bracket 32 is a bar 33 connected to an arm of a member 34, within the left end of which pivot pin 31 is mounted. The casing of a signal arm is journaled on the right portion of member 34 and on pivot pin 31 and this casing may consist of a pair of heads 35 and 36 respectively journaled on member 34 and pin 31, and a four-sided cage 37 secured at its ends to the heads 35 and 36. Two opposite sides of this cage 37 will preferably have the stenciled letters Leftcut therein, while the other two oppositev sides of the cage will preferably have the stenciled letters Right cut therein. Colored translucent plates 38 and 39 respectively are secured to the inner sides of the cage 37 and preferably the plates 38 secured to the sides having the letters .Left stenciled therein Vwill be. colored one color, such as red, while the plates 39 secured to the other sides having the letters Right stenciled therein will be colored a second and dilierent color, such as green. The member 34 fits for the most part within the cage 37 adjacent the upper side of the same and this member carries a clamping collar 40 within which a double ended electric socket 41 tits. Electric light bulbs 42 are secured in place within the two ends of this socket 41. A partition 43 is secured to the head 36 adjacent the left end of thev cage 37 and this partition, as best shown in Fig. 9, has a pair of outwardly pressed lugs formed thereon, which are adapted to abut opposite sides of the member 34 to limit possible rotation of the cage 37 relative to the member 34 to a 90O movement. A coiled tension spring 44, best illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, is secured at one end to the member 34 and at its other end to a pin 45 carried by head 35 and this spring has a dead center action relative to the cage 37, so that the cage may only come to a position of rest with either the two sides having the stenciled letters Left vertically disposed or with the two sides having the stenciled letters Right vertically disposed. rEhe cage 37, heads 35 and 36 and plates 38 and 39 form the signal arm of the device and this signal arm may be designated by the letter A as an entirety.

The two blocks 13 and 14 have downwardly extending arms and secured to and extending through these arms is a sleeve 46 within which a square shaft 47 telescopically ts. This shaft extends at its left end to a point adjacent the right end of the member 34 and the left end of the shaft is connected by a coupling 48 with a U-shaped rod 49, which projects through a central opening in the right end of the member 34 as best shown in Fig. 7, and is anchored to the head 35. The downwardly extending arm of block 14 carries quite a wide sleeve 50 through which the square shaft 47 extends and a slot is cut between portions of this sleeve and receives therebetween an arm 51 having a square open ing therein within which the shaft 47 is received. rihe shaft 47 is therefore allowed to slide relative to the arm 51 but as this arm is swung, the shaft will be turned. Fivotally connected to arm 51 is a. link 52.

The block 14 has an apertured boss in its upper portion running from the front to the rear thereof and fitting within this aperture and projecting rearwardly through bar 12 and header board 11, as best shown in 3, is an operating rod 53 having a. handle 54 secured to its rear end. This rod has a portion projecting forwardly from the block 14 and secured to this forwardly projecting portion of the rod is a short arm 55 pivotally connected with the link 27. Journaled on the rod 53 between arm 55 and block 14 is another short arm 56 pivotally connected with the link 52. rlhe two facing surfaces of the arms 55 and 56 are best illustrated in Fig. 10. Arm 56 carries a segment 57 which stands in the path of a projecting segment 58 carried by arm 55. Both segment 57 and segment'53 are of approximately 1.35o and it is thus clear that as the rod 53 is turned, so as'to carry segment 58 away from engagement with segment 57, a movement of 900 may take place before the segment 58 again engages the segment 57. The two segments 57 and 58 form a lost motion clutch or connection between the two arms 55 and 56. c

Secured to guide bracket 32 and insulated therefrom by insulating blocks 59 is a spring contact 60, which runs rearwardly from the bracket. An electrical conductor 61 runs from this spring contact 60 into cage 37 through an opening in the right end of the member 34 and this conductor is connected to the central contact post of the electrical socket 41, the other contacts of the socket being grounded to the member 34. Carried by block 15 and insulated therefrom by insulation 62 and projecting to the right of this bracket is a rod 63 with which the spring contact will engage when the sig-V conductor will be connected with one side of a suitable electrical supply such as a storage batter the other side of which will be grounded.

ln use on an automobile, when the engine is running, constant suction will be created by the intake manifold of the engine of the automobile to withdraw the air out of the tube 24. When the handle 54 of the operating rod 53 is in the vertical position shown in F 3, the valve 25 will be disposed as shown in Fig. 5, so that the right end ofthe cylinder 17 will be in communication with the tube 24 and the left end of the cylinder 7 will be in communication'with the atmosphere. Accordingly, the air between the plunger 23 and the riOht end of the cylinder 17 will be exhausted and the plunger will take approximately the position shown Vin Fig. 1 to hold the signal arm A in the retracted position shown. By swinging the long of the handle 54 to the right from this vertical position, the valve 25 will be raised from the position shown in Fig. 5 to the position shown in Fig. 6, whereupon the left end of the cylinder 17 will be placed in communication with the tube 24 and the right end of the cylinder will be placed in communication with the atmosphere. Accordingly, the plunger 23 will be drawn toward the left end of the cylinder 17 thereby causing the plunger rod 29 and signal arm to be moved to an extended position to the left of the header board 11 and to the left of the vehicle. During this movement the bracket 32 will ride over the rod 16 and the spring contact 60 will ride onto the rod 63 thereby causing an electrical circuit to be established to the bulbs 42 to light the same. llVhen the signal arm A is in this extended position, it may be seen by drivers of other automobiles and pedestrians, both ahead of the car upon which the signaling device is mounted, and behind the same, and the sides of the cage 37 having the stenciled letters Left thereon will be vertically disposed and it will thus be made known that the driver of the automobile upon which the signaling device is mounted, is about to make a left turn. After the turn is made, the long arm of the handle 54 may be swung downwardly to the left, thereby lowering the valve 25 and causing the retraction of the signal arm. Assuming that the driver desires to signal that he is about to make a right turn, when the signal arm in retracted 'position with the steneiled sides of the cage 37 having letters Left vertically disposed thereon and with the handle 54 vertically disposed, it is only necessary for the driver of the automobile to swing the long end of the handle 54 upwardly and to the left. is the rod 53 is turned, the segment 53 will engage the segment 57 to swing the arm 56 upwardly and to the left, thereby causing the square shaft 47 to be turned to such a point that the pin 45 to which spring 44 is connected, is swung to position past dead center relative to the turning axis of shaft 4'? and rod 49, and as a result, the signal arm A will 13e-rotated through 900, or to a position where the sides of the cage 37 having the stenciled letters Right are vertically disposed. t the same time that this occurs, the valve 25 will be raised from the position shown in Fig. 5 to that shown in 6, thereby causing the rod 29V and signal arm A to be extended to the lett from the header board l1. The stenciled letters Right will now be exposed to the view of pedestrians and drivers ot other vehicles. After the right turn has been made, the long ann or" handle 54 may be swung downwardly and to the right, so that the handle 54 extends in substantially vertical position whereupon, due to the lost motion connection between arm anu arm 56, the valve 25 will be lowered from the position shown in Fig. 6 to the position shown in Fig. 5 without swinging the arm 5G and rotating the signal arm The signal arm will thus be retracted to the position shown in 2. As then it is desired to again extend the signal arm a. d display the letters Lett, the long arm of the handle 54 need only be swung through 90 to the right thereby simu taneously causing a rotation of the signal arm through 90o and an extension ot the signal arm. Due t. the lost motion connection or clutch between the arms 55 and 56, it will be seen that the signal arm can be extended and retracted with either the letters Left or Right7 exposed for view to suit the requirements of the driver ot the vehicle to which the signaling device is applied.

It the tube 24 should be attached to the exhaust manifold of the engine, or to any other equivalent air forcing means, the signal will operate properly but when the valve 25 is located as shown in Fig. 5, the signal arm A will be extended while when the valve 25 is located as shown in Fig. 6, the signal arm A will be retracted.

It will be seen that a signaling device has been provided, which can be operated with great ease to extend and retract signal arm from a supporting structure and to expose dii'ferent arbitrary designations to view when the arm is extended.

.lt will, ot' course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions ot the various parts without departure trom the scope of the present invention.

That is claimed is l. A signaling device comprising a support, a signal arm carried by said support and capable of longitudinal extension and retraction in a horizontal direction relative l to said support and axial turning movement relative to said support from one position to another, means for extending and retracting said arm, means for selectively turning said arm when in any extended or retracted position and a control for operating said two means.

2. A signaling device comprising a support, a signal arm mounted on said support for extension and retraction in a horizontal direction relative thereto, and for turning movement to two different positions, means for extending and retracting said signal arm from said support, means for turning said signal arm from one position to the other position, an operating member for said iirst mentioned means and a lost motion connection between said operating member and said second mentioned means.

8. The structure defined in claim 2, said lost motion connection including a pair of clutch members, one of which is mounted on said operating member, and the other of which is journaled thereon, said clutch members having cooperating projections permitting a limited movement otone clutch member relative to the other before the projections on the two members engage.

4. A signaling device comprising a` support, a signal arm carried by said support and capable of longitudinal extension and retraction relative tosaid support and axial Vturning movement relative to said support from one position to another, means for extending and retracting said arm, means for turning said arm, a single control operable to cause said first mentioned means to extend said arm as said control is swung in one direction and lto cause said first mentioned means to retract said arm as said control is swung in the opposite direction, and a lost motion connection between said control and said turning means permitting movement of said control within confined limits sufficient to operate said irst mentioned means without operating said second mentioned means but operating said second mentioned means when said control is swung past said limits in either direction.

5. A signaling device comprising a support, a signal arm mounted on said support for longitudinal extension and retraction relative thereto and for turning movement relative thereto, means for extending and retracting said arm, means for turning said arm, a single control member, means connecting said cont-rol member with said extension and retraction means to cause said extension and retraction means to extend said arm as said member is swung in one direction and to cause said extension and retraction means to retract said arm as said member is swung in the opposite direction and a lostmotion connection between said member and said turning means permitting movement of said member within confined limits to operate said extension and retraction means without operating said turning means and acting to operate said turning means in one direction as said member is swung past its limit in one direction, and acting to operate said turning means in an Opposite direction as said member is swung past its limit in the opposite direction.

6. A signaling device comprising a support, a signal arm mounted on said support for extension and retraction relative thereto and for axial turning movement relative thereto, means for extending and retracting said arm, means for turning said arm, a control member movable in one direction to cause said extension and retraction means to eX- tend said arm and movable in an opposite direction to cause said extension and retraction means to retract said arm and a. lost motion connection between said control member and said turning means for operating said turning means, said lost motion connection permitting movement of said control member in both directions within coniined limits to cause said extension and retraction means to extend and retract said arm without operating said rotating means, but causing said turning means to be operated in one direction as said control member is moved past the coniined limit in one direction and causing said turning means to operate in an opposite direction as said control member is moved past the coniined limit in the opposite direction, and means for illuminating said signal arm as it is extended.

7. A signaling device comprising a support, a signal arm mounted on said support for extension and retraction relative thereto and for axial turning movement relative thereto, a pump cylinder mounted on said support, a plunger within said cylinder, a plunger rod connected to said plunger and to said signal arm, means for changing the pressure between said plunger and the ends of said cylinder, a. valve controlling said changing means to cause the pressure between said piston and one end of the cylinder to be lowered and the pressure between said plunger and the other end of the cylinder to be raised and vice versa, means for rotating said signal arm, operating means for said valve and a lost motion connection between said operating means and said rotating means permitting operation of said valve without rotating said signal.

8. A signaling device comprising a support, a cylinder secured to said support, a plunger within said cylinder, a plunger rod connected to said plunger, and running outwardly therefrom, a signal arm pivotally mounted on said plunger rod, guide means for said plunger rod, means for turning said signal arm relative to said plunger rod, means for changing the air pressure between and vice versa, operating means for said valve and a lost motion connection between said operating means and said rotating means to permit operation orp said valve, when said signal arm has been rotated to either one of two positions.

9. The structuredeined in claim 8, and means for illuminating said signal arm as said plunger rod is extended from said cylinder.

10. A signaling device comprising a suitable support, a cylinder mounted on said support, a pump plunger working within said cylinder, a plunger rod connected with said plunger, a signal arm mounter for rotation on said plunger rod, mea-ns for changing the pressure of air at the two ends of said cylinder, air passages leading from the two ends of said cylinder, a. third passage into which said first mentioned passages lead at spaced points and communicating at its ends with the atmosphere and communicating intermediate said iirst mentioned passages with said pressure changing means, a reciprocating valve in said third passage adapted when thrown to one position to place one of said iirst mentioned passages in communication with the atmosphere and the other of said lirst mentioned passages into communication with said pressure changing means and adapted when moved to another position to place the other of said iirst mentioned passages in communication with the atmosphere and to place the remaining first mentioned passage in communication with said pressure changing means, a control member for reciprocating said valve and a lost motion connection betw-een said member and said rotating means permitting reciprocation of said valve without operating said rotating means by movement of said member within coniined limits but acting to operate said r0- tating means after said member is moved beyond said coniined limits.

11. A signaling device comprising a support, a cylinder mounted on said support, a plunger within said cylinder, a plunger rod connected to said plunger extending outwardly 'from one end of said cylinder, a valve bloclr having a passage therein communicating with the atmosphere therein, a pair of space passages leading into said iirst mentioned passage at spaced points and running respectively to opposite ends of said cylinder, a tube having communication with said first mentioned passage intermediate said last mentionedA passages, a valve in said first mentioned passage controlling communication between said tube, said two second mentioned passages and the atmosphere, a signal arm pivoted on said plunger rod for turning movement from one position to a second position, means for turning said signal arm, operating means for said valve and a 10st motion connection between said operating means and said turning means, said lost motion Connection operating said turning means but permitting said valve to be moved Without operating said turning means when sai-d signal arm has been turned to either position.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

EDWARD F. SEBESTA. 

